Christ Lutheran Vail is a community of followers of Jesus Christ, committed to live by faith, to be known by love, and to be a voice of hope. We welcome people from all walks of life, wherever they are in their spiritual journey.

Sep 7, 2012

Day 5

Day 5 - September 7, 2012

Concordia Seminary has a specialized track of study for those Pastors who will start or plant mission congregations when they graduate. The “Mission Track” does not follow the normal seminary route. First, all of the electives deal with mission work. Second, there are extra meetings throughout the seminary training to study mission-specific topics. And finally, instead of doing the internship during the third year of seminary training, it is moved to the fourth year. That way, the seminarian can go to a mission congregation, do his internship for one year and stay at the congregation as their Pastor when the internship is complete.

When I arrived at the seminary, I was introduced to the “Mission Track” but I had mixed feelings about it. Sure Mission Planting seems exciting, but I viewed it a lot like Jurassic Park: It sounds sexy on paper, but that’s before you get there and the dinosaurs show up. I had been involved in three separate business startups and each one took an incredible amount of time and energy. I remember praying, “Lord, is this what you want me to do?” I submitted my resume to the Mission Track Director and left it in God’s hands. The Director never called me back and in many ways I was very relieved.

So I am still a little bewildered as to how I ended up at the Christ Lutheran Vail Mission startup. Oh well, God’s ways are not our ways.

Won’t you join me in praying for all the Mission Churches throughout the world and the people who start them?

“Dear God, please be with all those who are involved in starting mission congregations throughout the world. Give them time, courage, and wisdom. When the struggles seem too great, wrap your arms around them and give them your ever-present peace and comfort. All this we pray in the name of Jesus who died for His bride, the church.”